Bengal has made arrangements to help Assam tribals: Mamata Banerjee

Kolkata: Tribals from Assam are coming over to West Bengal for shelter after the killings in the northeastern state, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Thursday, asserting that her government would house the victims and has made all arrangements to help them.

"Many adivasi (tribal) families have started coming to our state for shelter. We have made necessary arrangements to help them and we will continue to do so," Banerjee wrote on her official Facebook page.

The Chief Minister said she was 'deeply saddened' by the brutal killing of tribals in Assam by militants. "I strongly condemn the heinous mass killings," she said.

Appealing for peace, she said the ghastly acts of violence must be stopped everywhere.

The death toll in Tuesday's horror in Kokrajhar, Sonitpur and Chirang districts of Assam rose to 73 on Thursday. Those slaughtered include 21 women and 18 children. Scores of others have been injured in the mayhem.

On Wednesday, three more tribals died when police fired at thousands who took to the streets.